No evidence of chemical attack in Douma - doctor

A British journalist who interviewed a doctor in the Syrian town of Douma claims he told him there was no evidence of a chemical attack.

Dr Assim Rahaibani, 58, said the video showing children gasping for breath - which triggered the weekend bombing campaign by the UK, US and France - is genuine.

But he explained to Robert Fisk, writing for the Independent, that patients were overcome not by gas but by oxygen starvation in the rubbish-filled tunnels and basements in which they lived, on a night of wind and heavy shelling that stirred up a dust storm.

Donald Trump and Theresa May seized on the video as evidence that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had crossed a 'red line' in his fight against jihadi forces that have all but been removed from their strongholds in the war-torn country.

Chemical weapons inspectors will be given access to the site on Wednesday (April 18).